Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: October 23, 2008
• Invested on: August 24, 2009

Joyce Barkhouse has created a strong and vivid picture of Maritime life and history for children across Canada. An author of fiction and non-fiction, she is best known for Pit Pony, a story about horses used in Cape Breton mines. Through her biographies of famous Nova Scotians, she brings her province's history to life for children and adults alike. An ardent promoter of literacy, she is a founding member of the Writers in the Schools program. She has given tirelessly of her time to young people, visiting schools all over the nation and sharing her love of reading and writing with others.